The Metro Historic Zoning Commission on June 18 approved a proposal at 3518 Richland Avenue to rebuild a side porch with an expanded usable area but restricted the covered portion so it would not extend more than 6 feet 6 inches beyond the historic house’s roofline.

Staff had identified the proposed covered portion as a problematic component because Richland West End guidelines generally prohibit side additions that step wider than the historic building on interior lots. Staff recommended approval only if the covered portion did not extend wider than the existing covered projection. The architect for the owner, Andrew Hedeman of Foursquare Design Studio, told commissioners the house is one of the three smallest on the block and argued the larger covered porch is necessary for livability — for example, as a legitimate grilling and covered cooking area — and would not visually dominate the street because the block’s rhythm leaves more space between houses at that location.

Neighbors and commissioners discussed the guidelines’ intent versus the practical usability needs of a narrow house. Commissioners considered precedent concerns but also looked for site-specific factors. One commissioner proposed a compromise that set a fixed limit on how much wider the covered portion could be than the historic roofline; the motion that passed set the maximum at 6 feet 6 inches wider than the historic house for the covered portion. The commission’s approval included standard conditions for materials and final details.

Staff will verify final drawings and materials to ensure compatibility with the Richland West End guidelines. The owners may build the porch floor to the requested footprint provided the roofed portion conforms to the approved maximum projection.